Defender of the Empire 2: Facades (5 page)

              RAJ SAID THAT IT WAS TIME, she replied. Because Raj was a Raven Spectral he knew something the rest of them didn’t, which naturally made Marius wonder what it could be. Why was it important that Wingstar become an admiral now when Rylynn, the others, and himself were commissioned on the man’s ship? Did it have anything to do with their being on his ship? And if not, what else had changed between now and the last time Wingstar was offered the Admiral’s Diamond?

              Marius found out later that night, after the festivities following the ceremony. Zara told him that the emperor wanted to speak with him. He told Rylynn and the others that he had to speak to someone and that he would see them tomorrow. As he walked away, he heard Jason ask what he had meant. Rylynn had replied that it was probably someone he had interned for, or a professor. Marius smiled slightly at her plausible cover as he made his way to the emperor’s study.

              Upon arriving he found the emperor, Commander Sam Blackmore, and Admiral Wingstar. Marius shared a nod with the other two Shades, before placing his right fist over his heart and bowing his head to his sovereign.

              “Thank you for coming, Marius,” the emperor greeted.

              “Sire,” he said, then glanced at the others. Looking back to the emperor he asked, “May I be so bold as to ask the reason for this little gathering?”

              Emperor Vailence leaned on the edge of his desk and said, “The point is this. Each of you knows that the Empire is under threat from a very ancient enemy—an enemy most consider a myth, but we few know the truth.” He met Braeden’s eyes. “You saw the threat coming with your visions. Visions that are supported by texts Sam has found. The texts mention a prophecy that speaks of only one hope for the Empire against this darkness; a person known as the Defender.” The emperor turned to meet Marius’s gaze. “And you, Marius, have seen signs of the enemy moving.” As the emperor spoke, Marius felt that the room grew colder with each word spoken. But he knew it wasn’t the room’s fault. It was his imagination.

              “And if there were any doubts among us, they disappeared the moment Scrae and Luna told me about the
Lous-eci’dalb,
” Marius said, naming the two Spectrals who had been the latest in a long stream of those who had gone missing. Their Shades had been killed by Admiral Knight, using the cursed weapon. They were free now because Kylesst, a mythic Spectral, had slipped their bonds from the blade around him to Rylynn. And Rylynn had been the only witness to Knight’s killings.

              “Which is also how we know
who
the Defender is,” the emperor continued.

Marius tilted his head in question. He had a guess, but he was a little biased. Zara snorted at his silent confession. Marius shot the panther Spectral an annoyed glance.

Sam, who had caught the interaction, shook his head before answering the silent question by quoting something he had obviously read. “‘You will know the Defender by four signs. The first is the chosen will be found young. The second, the Defender will have been raised in truth, but surrounded by deceit. The Defender will be of the First, but considered last. And finally, the
Lous-eci’dalb
will resurface at the same time.’” Sam paused, then continued. “We believe that the Defender is Rylynn. She fits three of those signs.” He began to tick off his fingers. “She was found young. She witnessed the
Lous-eci’dalb
being used, thus it ‘resurfaced’. Third, we know that both her parents were noble Citizens and her mother’s family are related to the Imperens,” he said, with a glance at the emperor. Emperor Vailence nodded and Sam continued. “She is of the First, but considered a colonist and thus last by most.”

“Well I think I understand the final sign,” Marius said. He pulled the letter Rylynn had shown him earlier during the festivities—a mysterious letter that her aunt had written to her before the woman died. Marius personally thought it begged more questions than it answered, as did the circumstances surrounding her receipt of the letter. It made him wonder what the aunt had been part of. And, what about this Ace character Rylynn talked about? Marius knew it was possible to get around the system that separated Citizens from colonists, but he was a little surprised that a gang leader on a colony world most considered a backwater had known how. His gut instinct was practically screaming that Ace was more than he seemed… as was the letter, which was why he had asked Rylynn if he could borrow the letter to show to Sam. This sudden meeting solved his dilemma of when he would be able to meet the commander.

“What is this?” the emperor asked, as he took it from Marius.

“A letter, sire, from Rylynn’s aunt.” Both the emperor and Sam looked intrigued, as Sam read the letter over the emperor’s shoulder. Out of the corner of his eye he noted Braeden’s tiny jerk of surprise. The emperor finished reading the letter and handed it to Sam, who then passed it to Braeden, who seemed to pale as he read it. Marius wondered about the new admiral’s reaction.

“I see what you mean,” the emperor said. He was obviously troubled. “I am glad now that you two told me who you thought she was before I entered the Admiralty Board’s chamber,” he said, glancing at Sam and Braeden. “The commission I gave her and her team was the only way I could think of to get them out of the Academy before the enemy could kill her. Not that they didn’t deserve it,” he added with a smile toward Marius. Marius grinned back, bowing his head.

“How are the repairs to your ship coming?” Sam asked Braeden. “The sooner you leave, the safer we will all be.”

“We’ll need to do a final systems check to make it official, but the
Hail Mary
is spaceworthy now. We will be flying out tomorrow,” Braeden replied.

“Good,” Emperor Vailence said.

“Not to sound thick, but what kind of danger is Rylynn in now?” Marius asked.

“The enemy will also know who Rylynn is at this point. The prophecy that speaks about the Defender also warns that if the Defender does not leave the ‘place of learning’, the Academy, soon the Defender will die young. Killed by the enemy,” Sam explained.

“Even though she’ll be out soon, I want the two of you,” the emperor said looking pointedly at both Marius and Braeden, “to guard her. Keep her as safe as possible. I don’t think I need to tell you the consequences if something should happen to her.” Both Marius and Braeden bowed in the traditional Shade’s salute.

“I understand, sire,” Marius said.

Braeden copied him but added, “By whatever strength granted me, I will keep her safe.” To Marius it sounded like the man had just made an oath not only to the emperor, but to himself. This was personal—Marius was very curious.

Zara sighed. MARIUS, HE KNEW THE GIRL’S PARENTS, she told him as they left the emperor’s study.

I think there is more to it than that, Zara,
Marius thought back.

CAREFUL. THERE ARE REASONS WHY NOT EVERYTHING IS REVEALED AT ONCE. Marius blinked at Zara’s cryptic warning.

I see someone has been taking lessons from Kylesst,
Marius thought to her.

Zara snorted as she coalesced next to him. He did not fear anyone else seeing her, because only another fully bound Shade could, and they wouldn’t bat an eye. She shot him a look. I
AM
A SPECTRAL, MARIUS.

You know something I don’t.

OF COURSE I DO, she replied with a huff. I AM SEVERAL CENTURIES OLDER THAN YOU. I’M JUST TELLING YOU, THINGS WILL REVEAL THEMSELVES IN TIME.

And you know that I’m a curious son-of-a-gun,
Marius returned.

YOU ARE GOING TO GET INTO TROUBLE AGAIN, Zara said in a bored tone. She knew him well.

Of course. That’s why you love me,
Marius thought with a smile. The Spectral panther rubbed her head against his leg with a purr.

JUST BE CAREFUL. AND STAY FOCUSED ON WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN LIFE.

Zara? What are you not telling me?
Marius asked. Zara often playfully scolded him, but this was different. There was something in her tone. She met his gaze with her golden eyes for a moment, then looked away. She did not reply as she padded alongside him, and for once Marius let her be. Something was bothering her, and if he pressed she would never tell him. He would wait. Hopefully, though, she would tell him before he died of curiosity.

Chapter 5 – Sweet Dreams

Iceron System

Spectral Empire

Betrayer

Once he had a name. Once it had been a proud and glorious thing. But that had been so many ages ago… he no longer remembered it. Now, he was known as the Betrayer. He had earned that title, that name. Everyone he had ever known, he had betrayed. His own kind, the people he mixed with… his enemies, his friends… he snorted as he walked the shadowed hall. Friends. Now, that was inappropriate. Betrayer didn’t have friends. He had tools. All to get what he wanted.

              And what did he want?

              Ah, now there was a
universe
of possibilities... So many games. Betrayer was like a rock in a river, something all else had to go around. Or perhaps a better, more appropriate analogy would be that he was a black hole. Small in a physical sense, but with a gravity and power that everything else orbited. Betrayer smiled. Yes, he was a black hole. Not only did he have the ability to tug things into an arrangement he preferred—he could destroy them. And let’s be honest, he
enjoyed
pulling them to their doom, and his strength. So yes, ever since that discovery that changed his people to something new, he had been affecting the course of history.

              Betrayer was a scientist at heart, always pushing the boundaries of what could be achieved. Sometimes he even did so for the benefit of others. Most of the time… well he was a black hole. He often played with the genetics of select species. And when that wasn’t interesting enough, he would rework entire ecosystems. When he was feeling particularly ambitious, worlds would be shaped by his hand.

              When he was bored with science, he would turn to politics. It was an entertaining pastime. All creatures had things they needed, and things they wanted. The more sentient, the more complex, yet still simple. There were a set number of emotions that guided them: lust, hunger, fear, and the need to be in control. To Betrayer, politics were just an elaborate game of chess. In times of stagnant peace, all he had to do was nudge the right people using the right impetus, and things would explode beautifully. It never mattered how many people died. They were all bugs to him, anyway. Useful bugs, in that they amused him and provided him with a constant source of energy, but still bugs. He could never truly lose, especially now that those who had once been his people provided a lovely smokescreen for him. The universe feared them, but had no clue of the puppet master. They didn’t think to fear him. He erased himself from public history, and the Spectrals and their Shades couldn’t interfere with something they did not know about.

              He was a black hole puppet master, and smug as the cat who stole the cream over it.

              Betrayer made his way through his private station in the cloaking clouds of Iceron. Eventually he reached the room containing his Pets. Those who had been near the door fled in a scramble, trying desperately not to be noticed. Only one, sitting at a small card table, didn’t move. She was a human with a slender frame that one could almost call frail. Her light chestnut hair had grown long since he brought her here and now hung over her slim shoulder in a loose pony tail. She wore a simple green gown today. He liked it. “Greetings of the day to you, Lady Sylvia Foréss Sinclair,” he said, coming closer to her. The rest of his Pets sheltered against the wall if they were curious and brave. The rest were more than likely tucked away in their little rooms. Sylvia didn’t meet Betrayer’s gaze. A shame, she had the most beautiful moss green eyes. “I’m surprised that you kept that name, since it tied you to me,” he continued. It was a fact that interested him, especially considering
she
was the one who had left him.

              “Not you. The man I loved,” she replied softly, meeting his gaze. She was calm, but he could see something else lurking in her eyes. Some shade of it was always there, and it kept him interested—kept him wanting to know what it was.

              “You mean the man who never existed?
That
man?” he asked cruelly.

              That
something
spasmed in her eyes as she muttered, “What do you want?” Seemingly unable to look at him any longer, she turned away. He noted her fists clenching on the table before she could hide them in the folds of her gown. Betrayer grinned as her silent reaction gave her away. He had touched the right spot. She could pretend all she wanted, but the truth was, there was nothing of the man she had thought he was. He had never, in all his years,
ever
been
that
man.

It was past time she figured that out.

              That man hadn’t been fun, either. Too predictable. The only redeemable part of the whole experience was getting the beauty before him under his thumb. He smiled, and Sylvia shrank satisfyingly into her seat. “What I want is to hear the screams that are coming. To watch things tremble. They have been static for too long,” he answered her.

              “What are you going to do?” she asked in growing horror.

              Betrayer grinned at her. “Use your imagination, Sylvia. You have a nice one. In fact,” he said taking a step closer to her, “I want to know what it is you See.”

              “No…” Sylvia moaned as she threw herself out of her chair. In an undignified scramble, she backed away from him, her pleading hand begging him to stay away. The other hand pressed over her heart. “Please no…” she begged. Betrayer just followed her until she backed into the wall, and then he just kept coming. Tears glittered in those pleading moss green eyes. Too bad for her, he had no mercy. He caught her head in his hands and focused on his gifts. She cried out, but there was nothing she could do to stop him. She had let him in willingly before, and had not retracted the invitation. The fact that she didn’t know
how
mattered very little to him. The energy built, and he found where her ability stemmed from with the ease of long practice. Without too much effort he pulled her gift foreword, till they could both See what it had to offer. Sylvia resisted, but it was paltry at best.

              Sylvia’s marvelous gift surrounded him. The room vanished and was replaced by an earthen tunnel. It looked like a great drill had cut through the rock, the heat of friction dulling the rough edges. Betrayer frowned slightly.

              “You know this place,” Sylvia stated. She stood next to him, her hand in his. Though it looked voluntary, it wasn’t. She had no control. No choice. Betrayer was in control, and she was his guide.

              “Of course I know it,” he said in a perfectly calm tone. Sylvia glanced at him as if waiting to know more. Betrayer’s brow rose. “Curious, are we?” Her response was an interesting mix of self-conscious fidgeting and interest, which was intriguing since she hated the real him. The explanation of the tunnel would obviously paint her a better picture of the man he really was. He gestured grandly about the tunnel and said, “I built this place, Sylvia. It was where I decided to imprison the rest of my greedy kind.” Sylvia paled, and he smiled before leading her toward that prison.

              A humming sound filled the air. A thrumming that vibrated through the stone around them. Sylvia’s hand shook in his. She even stepped closer to him.
Guess the old saying is right,
he mused as he continued walking, ‘
A known enemy is preferred to an unknown one’.

              “What is that?” Sylvia eventually gathered enough courage to ask.

              Betrayer tilted his head as if to listen before replying. “A hearty mix of enraged ranting and helpless screams.” He shrugged. “It happens when organisms are stuck and starving. They should be grateful that they can’t die in their current prison… of course that could be the problem,” he added thoughtfully. “Guess that is the downside of a prison designed not to allow any escape...”

              “Why…?” she asked. Betrayer raised an eyebrow at her. “Why did you build such a prison?”

              “A better question would be, why
wouldn’t
I?” he asked in return. Betrayer didn’t elaborate after that. For one reason, he did not feel the need. Another would be that they had arrived at the heart of the prison. Sylvia’s steps faltered before coming to a halt. Betrayer grinned in pride.

              Suspended over a pool filled with an oily silver substance was a many-faceted crystal sphere. It wasn’t any one color. Instead, it was much like the rainbow sheen of oil on moving water. The colors pulsed in time with the thrumming that echoed in the room. One could almost make out the words… snatches of focusing phrases… pleas… threats. All of it was one big garbled mess of despair. As nice as it was to have all of his old colleagues in a bottle, they were getting annoying, which was why he tended not to come here often… though he did have plans. He turned to Sylvia. “Why are we here?” he asked. “Why are you Seeing this place?”

              For a moment Sylvia looked like she was trying not to say. Trying to end the dream before he could see its point. But as he had said earlier, she was only the guide. He was the one in charge. It didn’t matter in the end if she told him or not, as a large bear-like man moved into the room. Betrayer blinked, recognizing the man as none other than the disgraced Admiral Knight. The man knelt before the sphere. He did not appear to notice the watching couple. They were not really there, just watching like a hologram repeating an event.

The man’s eyes were black. Betrayer shook his head slightly.
So one or two weaker ones did avoid the net,
he thought with a sigh. The weaker the original gift of the Soul Shadow, the weaker they were in this new form. They were more limited in their movements and depended heavily on possession. It wasn’t just a food source for them, it was the only way they could exist without fading.

              All well. It looked like this one was going to make his life easier by opening the prison. Puppet Knight pulled out a black stone blade with intricate formations coming off its hilt, and Betrayer’s eyes gleamed. So that was where his beloved creation had gotten to. How wonderful. And, unless Sylvia’s Seeing had messed with his senses, there was a powerful mythic Spectral trapped within the
Lous-eci’dalb’s
grasp. That, and a slew of other Spectrals. Just as Knight was regaining his feet, a chromatic Telmick throwing knife pierced the man’s leg just above the knee. Since it had been charged to white, it had cut right through any armor and bone as if it didn’t even exist. Only the hilt calling a halt to things kept the knife from continuing on its trajectory.

              Knight hissed with the pain and lost his footing. But, he had been too well-trained to lose the knife. The big man turned to a young girl who had run into the room. She was small, with dark hair that hung just short of touching her shoulders. The clothing on her frame was obviously too large and just as obviously hard-used. Filth clung to it, and her skin. But none of her attire could hide the spirit in her gray eyes… Betrayer recognized her. And so did Sylvia, apparently, if her gasp was anything to go by.

              Rylynn Sinclair entered the room with another chromatic knife in her hand. Its blade shifted from orange to yellow to white rapidly as she glared at Knight. Betrayer knew her as the colony girl who had joined the Admiral’s Challenge. At the time, he had been trying to spread doubt about a Spectral Shade who thought to masquerade as a trainee. Betrayer went about it by possessing, from a distance, a lad named Michel Serra. All he knew about the colony girl was that she was on speaking terms with the Shade.

              Rylynn shouted something at Knight, probably a warning, based on her tone. Betrayer turned to Sylvia. “Any chance we can hear what is said?”

              Sylvia shrugged. “It hasn’t happened yet, therefore you cannot hear. You can only See the basics.”

              Rylynn didn’t hesitate when Knight disregarded her. She threw the second knife. This time it went through his spine and pierced his heart. Knight went down, and the
Lous-eci’dalb
skittered away to teeter on the edge of the pool of oily silver liquid. Eyes wide, Rylynn rushed toward it. She snatched up the blade before it could touch the pool. Betrayer’s eyes narrowed. The substance was not exposed to a vacuum. It wouldn’t destroy the stone blade, but he could understand the girl’s concern. She would have no hope of finding it if it fell in. That pool was several thousand feet deep and thicker than water. And that was all before it met the lock.

              The girl didn’t just want the blade to be lost for a really long time—she wanted it destroyed. This was made clear as she slammed it down at an awkward angle on the lip of the pool. It took a few tries, but the
Lous-eci’dalb
finally shattered into pieces, letting the trapped Spectrals swarmed the room in a chaotic, yet free dance. The most powerful Spectral curled about the girl, and it was in that moment that Betrayer fully understood
who
she was.

              Betrayer turned to Sylvia. “I see now what you were keeping from me that day,” he said in a soft tone. Sylvia’s eyes went wide. Betrayer yanked the two of them back to their real selves. His hands were still cradling Sylvia’s head. Her hands were on his wrists and her moss green eyes were staring at him in despair. It was obvious Sylvia knew what Rylynn was to him. There was only one person in the Empire who could disrupt his plans and that was the Defender, his sworn enemy. It was ironic that he had been sitting next to her that day before the Admiral’s Challenge started.